Back in May, I tested the Igulu F1 smart beer brewer. To refresh my memory from back then, I thought it was a fun gadget that’s perfect for summer parties. Using Hello Fresh-style beer kits or your own recipe, you can make your own beer, kombucha, or other alcoholic beverages. Once you’re done, you can serve your drinks from the machine, which will keep them chilled to the perfect refreshing temperature.
Aside from it being a little too big for my small apartment countertop (more of a problem for me than the brewer), my only complaint is that it’s a little pricey at $699 / £555. It might put off more casual beer lovers looking to take their first steps into brewing, and while the automation features are appealing – particularly the safety features – I felt like people spending that much money on a brewery kit would appreciate something a little more practical.
At least as far as that earlier issue of perhaps being too expensive is concerned, the new Igulu S1 could help. It’s said to retail for $549 (around £432), but if you back it on Kickstarter, You can buy it for just $299 (about £236).
After testing the Igulu S1, I can confirm that it’s identical to the F1 in many ways. It’s still a cylindrical box into which you plug a keg filled with brewing ingredients. The machine then modulates the keg’s pressure and temperature to meet your specifications—or the specifications it reads from the brew kit’s RFID chip. If there are any problems, it can automatically release the pressure to prevent accidents, and when the brewing process is complete, you can pour a pint straight from the S1’s spout.
The biggest difference in features is that it can’t tap third-party kegs – the Igulu F1 can be fitted with compatible pre-brewed beer kegs from your favorite brands and keep them cold. This is a slight disappointment as it takes away one aspect of the F1’s versatility from the new model, but if you only intend to use the Igulu S1 to drink your own beer, you won’t notice this feature is missing.
I also noticed that the Igulu S1 is a bit louder than the F1, so you may want to put it somewhere other than the kitchen or disturb the unit a bit more.
That said, there are a few downgrades to be expected if it’s cheaper than its predecessor. And, as I said above, if you want to save even more, you can pick up the Igulu S1 via the Kickstarter campaign (until August 25) for just $299 (around £236) – the product is scheduled to ship in December.